Chapter 428: Party and celebrations
– The flashback for Amy's 12th birthday. .
It had been over two months since Amy had her awakening ceremony, yet the storm caused by goddess Gauri's arrival was still causing waves in every part of Shilla's continent.
The Blake family's influence was growing year by year, and though it meant more strength, more profits, and more charades of generosity_ it also brought forward more prying eyes, intense jealousy, and even more enemies,
How could it not be, when the name of Blake's was seemingly on such an upward trend in every area. Strength, economy, alchemy, influence, fanaticism _ there was hardly even a child who didn't know their name.
The effect of their renowned magic potions which turned poor and hopeless populous into powerful awakeners was beyond words. Hell, if Arcadia was the world of democracy, Blake's would win every election with a heavy margin even against the ruling Royal Family.
It itched the nobles and elites that the commoners they always ruled and controlled were getting more devoted to their competitors. But they were all also helpless.
No matter how hard they tried they couldn't recreate or retrace the formula of those potions. And those who tried to bring gods or blessings into this suffered backlash from every side.
There were even guilds razed and houses destroyed overnight who didn't know their place. How could any spy hide the lines of karma floating over his head from the heart of Patricia Blake. So all those enemies could just all wait in patience for a fortunate chance to strike.
But Amy's firey awakening which despite the limitless efforts and impregnable barriers of Blake's made so much noise, was kind of like the last straw on the camel's back. Making everyone anxious and desperate.
The restless enemy ignores the consequences and attacks blindly. And that was how people were starting to behave at that time. After all, no one wanted Rio and Amy to grow up any more, and become even more troublesome in the future.
_
[Experiment number 87
After many trials and efforts, I've come to the conclusion that as the system said, I am an anomaly. I am beyond fate's control. Hidden from the threads of destiny which is following the novel's pattern.
I've realized it after seeing that if I'm not around to alter the plotlines, the chances that fate would play tricks and my plans and minions would fail are much higher, _compared to the time when I'm actively present there to handle the situation.
If I'm not around, the fate can actively influence my minions, make them arrogant, ignorant, or even downright foolish experience packages. The severity of this_ depends on the importance of plotline or character concerned.
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This result also raises concern if I can ever fully trust anyone except myself.
If a plot is important enough and fate is desperate enough, would something drastic happen?
Would my teammates whom I fooled and won over suddenly have a change of heart and follow the hero?
I don't know.
Need further experiments. ]
..
"I think I told you to rest."
A sudden voice broke Rio's private journal time, as he hurriedly hid his 'survival' diary into his ring and pretended to sleep.
Artemis walked to his bedside, a loving look and gentle smile on her face as she ignored his act and sat beside him. Her fingers ran into his hairs, gently caressing his head, until they reached the skin of his forehead where a bloody cut was visible, covered in medicine.
Rio, who was 'sleeping' couldn't help but groan and make a hissing sound.
"Does it still hurt?" Artemis asked, as she used her sleeves to carefully wipe his sweat mixing with the medicine.
Knowing his sleepy act was over, Rio opened his eyes and simply rested his head in her lap. Shamelessly acting childish to save himself from the earful coming next.
"Just a small cut. It won't even leave a scar." Rio said as he held her hand and guided it back to his hairs. The massage is nice, after all.
The duo stayed like that in silence, and when Rio relaxed his guard and was about to fall into sweet dreams, Artemis's voice came again. "How many times have I told you to stop sneaking out on your own? The whole Damascus is so tense these days and you're out there picking fights against random nobodies."
"If you want something done, you can just ask Myra or me, why do you have to go out yourself, and risk getting hurt. If I didn't have Alphas following you today.. I _ ."
"I'm fine, mother. I really am." Rio spoke as he opened his eyes and looked at her face lost in thoughts. "I promise I won't do it again."
"No, you won't." Artemis said as she shook her head, "Cause you're grounded. And until you break through to a major rank, you're not stepping a foot outside this mansion."
"Mother, that would take me like 3-4 months at least."
"And?"
"Please… ."
"No, and I'm serious."
"But it wasn't my fault. Really. I was just going to quickly deal with a small shop owner. Who knew there were still people sneaking in Damascus to attack me?"
"That doesn't change the fact that you got careless, and surrounded by so many of them."
"I had plans to teleport and break out of it. I even had the armor, and talismans, and the heir token too. I would've survived anyway."
"Survival and being safe, are sometimes two very different things, my son. So until we deal with all those guild delegations and sneaky spies, you're not going anywhere."
"Arghhh. What about Amy's birthday? I can go out for that day, right? She's so excited about it. She wants to show off her magic so bad at the party. (Chuckles)"
"We're cancelling the celebrations." Artemis said, stopping Rio mid sentence, "I don't want any more noise near my house any time soon now. And until your father finds a way to hide Kali's aura and the signs of chaos from Amy's body, she'll stay at home too."
".... She's not gonna like it." Rio said after hearing his parents' arrangements. He had half guessed it already before, but that didn't mean he shouldn't speak for his sis. "She made so many plans. She even has a list longer than her own height."
"Her safety's more important. Even though we blocked the news, just the rumors of her successful awakening and a primordial popping up had caused enough unrest, I don't want any more targets on her back."
"Tch, she's gonna cry if you tell her the truth."
"That's why I'm gonna lie."
"... Oh. Uohhh" Rio said and looked at his mother's 'evil' sneaky smile, and couldn't help but pray for his sister.
'I tried my best, Ames.'